Names In The News

In Atlanta, Andria Simmons reported ABA President & COO and ABA Atlanta Vision co-Owner QUENTIN TOWNSEND had his first appearance hearing in Forsyth County (GA) yesterday "on a theft by deception charge." Townsend had been "jailed Friday and given a hefty $600,000 bond." Forsyth County Sheriff's Office spokesperson KARLEEN CHALKER said the charge has "something to do with an investment scheme." Jayhawk Sports' CARTER PATTERSON and BRIAN RICHEY in September filed a lawsuit alleging that Townsend "defrauded them of money under the pretense of getting a team" into the NBA D-League (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/10).

CLOSER LOOK: In Boston, Shanahan & Rhone report "it raised some eyebrows last week" when the Patriots chose to honor Marblehead (MA) High School football coach DOUG CHERNOVETZ as the team's coach of the week. Chernovetz is the "subject of a lawsuit filed by former player TIM MORRIS, who claims Chernovetz assaulted and berated him." Patriots Exec Dir of Media Relations STACEY JAMES said that the team "was unaware of the lawsuit when it honored Chernovetz." James: "The award doesn't come with that type of detailed vetting." James said that in the future the team "will look more closely at the nominated coaches" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/11).

HELPING HAND: CNBC.com's Brian Gainor profiled Carnegie Sports Group President & Founder HARRIE BAKST, whose company combines "their sports marketing and philanthropy efforts to deliver business results to achieve social goals." Bakst has built "effective programs for Coca-Cola Co., Reebok, and various other companies that are seeking to achieve the double-edged goal of initiating programs that achieve business and philanthropic results" (CNBC.com, 11/10).

NAMES: NHL free agent C MATS SUNDIN last week sold his four-bedroom, eight-bathroom home in Toronto for C$5.7M. Sundin purchased the home in ’03 for C$1.7M, then “dramatically renovated both the interior and exterior” (TORONTO STAR, 11/11)….The Fiesta Bowl named NASCAR driver TONY STEWART the Grand Marshal for its January 3 parade, and Stewart also will toss the coin prior to the Fiesta Bowl at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium on January 5 (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 11/7)….Steelers WR HINES WARD recently was honored at the Salvation Army “Doing the Most Good Dinner” for his “commitment and involvement with Project Bundle-Up,” which helps provide winter clothing for children (STEELERS.com, 11/10)….Skateboarders TONY HAWK and SHAUN WHITE, Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer ANTHONY KIEDIS and actor DAVID SPADE Sunday attended the fifth-annual Activision Presents Stand Up For Skateparks, where over $1M was raised for the Tony Hawk Foundation (THF) and its effort to bring skateparks to low-income communities in the U.S. (THF).